Detroit Tigers: 2016 Draft Picks to Watch in 2017

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila recently wrapped up his first full year running the team’s front office. That included the 2016 draft. Avila added some intriguing talent that is worth watching next season.

Detroit Tigers fans haven’t seen many of the team’s top prospects establish careers with the club.

The likes of Johnathan Crawford, Willy Adames and Devon Travis were all traded away before reaching the Majors. Elsewhere, Jacob Turner, Avisail Garcia and Casey Crosby failed to catch on with Detroit.

However, in recent seasons, the Tigers have focused more on youth.

Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and JaCoby Jones have joined in trades, while Nick Castellanos, Bruce Rondon and James McCann have developed into integral contributors.

Detroit has also brought depth to the farm system. Matt Manning, Christin Stewart, Beau Burrows, Mike Gerber and Derek Hill have all joined the organization in recent years. Additionally, top relief prospect Joe Jimenez looks set to debut in the near future.

The Tigers farm system could still use some added talent, but Avila and company did an excellent job in the 2016 draft.

Manning and Kyle Funkhouser will rightly dominate the headlines, but Detroit also added some intriguing talent later in the draft.

Here are nine 2016 Detroit Tigers draft picks to watch next season.

Daniel Pinero
Age: 22
Position: Shortstop
Round Drafted: Ninth

Shortstops standing at 6’5” aren’t exactly the most common thing in the world, but the Detroit Tigers have one in Daniel Pinero.

The former University of Virginia player saw time in both the Gulf Coast League and New York-Pennsylvania League last season.

All told, he batted .271 with a strong .382 on-base percentage in 50 contests. The shortstop also added 26 runs scored, 22 RBI, eight doubles, two home runs, two stolen bases and a triple.

Considering Detroit doesn’t have too much shortstop depth in the prospect department, Pinero could move up the organizational ladder.

Hector Martinez looks like a promising player, but he just completed his first season in the Gulf Coast league. Additionally, A.J. Simcox turned in just a .298 on-base percentage with Lakeland last year.

Zac Houston
Age: 22
Position: Relief Pitcher
Round Drafted: 11^th

Houston, who checked in at #19 on Motor City Bengals’ list of the Detroit Tigers’ top prospects, recently wrapped up an excellent debut season in the professional ranks.

Over the span of 29.2 innings split between Connecticut and Single-A West Michigan, the reliever posted a minuscule 0.30 ERA to go along with 14.9 punch outs per nine frames.

The ERA is obviously not sustainable, but Houston’s ability to rack up strikeouts could help him pitch out of Brad Ausmus’ bullpen in the next few years.

Daniel Woodrow
Age: 22
Position: Outfielder
Round Drafted: 12^th

Another base-stealing threat who plays in the outfield, Woodrow racked up 13 stolen bases in his first 54 professional games.

In addition, the Creighton product also turned in a .297 batting average and a .363 on-base percentage in both the Gulf Coast League and the New York-Pennsylvania league.

Woodrow also chipped in with 31 runs scored, 22 RBI, 12 doubles and a triple.

With prospects like Christin Stewart and Mike Gerber getting closer to the Majors, players like Woodrow will help sustain the farm system’s depth.

Brandyn Sittinger
Age: 22
Position: Relief Pitcher
Round Drafted: 17^th

Like many relievers on this list, Brandyn Sittinger’s debut season involved plenty of strikeouts and a low ERA.

Over the span of 20.2 innings, the 22-year-old pitched to a sparkling 1.74 ERA while striking out 10.5 batters per nine frames.

What is perhaps most encouraging about the right-hander’s debut is that he progresses all the way to Advanced-A Lakeland. With another strong season, Sittinger could be in the mix for a bullpen spot a year from now.

Joe Navilhon
Age: 23
Position: Relief Pitcher
Round Drafted: 21^st

Al Avila seems to have unearthed another late-round gem, at least where early results are concerned.

Joe Navilhon started his professional career with Connecticut and promptly went on to lead the New York-Pennsylvania League in ERA with a 0.34 number.

Next: Three Pitching Prospects Rank 20th-18th on MCB' List of Top Tigers Prospects

In addition, the right-hander also struck out 29 batters to just seven walks in 26.1 innings. That equates to 9.9 punch outs and 2.4 walks per nine innings.